Humidifier



. 2 Sheets-Sheet v2 c. E. ROBB HUMIDIFIER Filed April 1, 1935 Z23 Z? R061) July 19, 1938.

Patented July 19, 1938 This invention relates to a humidifier.

rates HUMIDIFIER Charles E. Robb, Rock Island, Ill.

Application April 1, 1935, Serial No. 14,115

10 Claims.

It is particularly concerned with a humidifying unit that can be readily used with existing radiators or, if desired, can be assembled with like units to form a humidifier whose size can be varied to suit the requirements.

The desirability of humidifying the atmosphere in dwellings, offices and buildings of all kinds has been recognized for a long time, but the difiiculty has been that the humidifiers available for the purpose have either been lacking in capacity, or

inefiicient, or so expensive to install, or maintain, that, as a practical matter, very little has been done.

The number of residences and offier that may be readily combined with existing heating systems, or, with equal facility, used as a humidifier which in itself also has some heating capacity.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved humidifying device.

A more particular object is to provide a humidifying unit that may be readily combined with a radiator to give a very efiicient and high capacity humidifying action.

Another object is to provide a humidifying unit that may be combined with like units to form a humidifier whose size and capacity can be varied at the option of the assembler.

Another object is to provide a combined radiator and humidifier that will not only be an effective heating unit, but which will humidify the atmosphere to a high degree within a veryshort space of time.

Other objects and will appear from drawings.

advantages of the invention the following specification and An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the humidifying unit combined with a radiator that is shorter,

than the unit;

Fig.7 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig, 1, being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the humidifying unit combined with a radiator that is longer than the unit;

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the humidifying unit on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a plan of the humidiiying unit with a portion broke away to show the interior more clearly;

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 56 of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a side elevation and longitudinal cross section of a number of humidifying units assembled tcgether to form a humidifier; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation on the line 8-43 of Fig. '7. V

The method employed to get an extremely rapid, high capacity humidification. is to maintain a metal plate of substantial area at a high temperature by having a heating. medium, such as steam, contact substantially the entire area of one side of'said plate, and to then maintain a very thin layer of water in direct contact with the opposite side of said plate and over substan. tially the entire area of said opposite side so that substantially instantaneous and continuous vaporization of the water takes place. This method is preferably carried out by avery simple unit that has beendevised, which unit can be used by itself, or with a radiator, or with other like units to form a multiple unit humidifier.

The humidifier unit comprises a body id which, in the form shown, is substantially rectangular and continuous between its end and side walls, although hollow as wiil be later explained. It is preferably made of a width substantially equal to that of, a standard radiator ii and, while its length can be varied, a standard length is preferably employed because, for reasons explained later, one unit can be used under a wide variety of conditions. It has been found that a'width of 9 inches and a length of 22 inches will'give sufiicient humidifying capacity for 5 or 6 rooms of average size because of the very efiicient action of the unit. The unit shown is made of cast metal, but it can be formed of sheet steel or other material, if desired.

The top of the unit is recessed to form an open water-receiving chamber 82 which has 'a width and length substantially equal to that of the body, that is, it has an area equal to that of the body except ior the small space occupied by the side and end walls 53 and it which must extend upward slightly beyond the bottom of the chamber to retain the water in it. A relatively large evaporating surface is thus provided. The

flows very slowly and at a rate just suflicient to V supply the necessary quantity for humidification without causing the water chamber to overflow. If desired, a valve can be automatically controlled by a float I8 in the water chamber as shown in Fig. 1. The details of this valve have not been illustrated as valves of this type are well known.

' If water were to be introduced into the water chamber in relatively large quantities, it would distribute itself over the entire width of the chamber. When water is introduced slowly at one end, as it preferably is, it'will likewise distribute itself uniformly if the unit is level, and

it should be-installed in a level position. But,

to insure that when the water is introduced at one end, it will distributeitself over the width of the chamber even though the unit is not level,

' means has been provided in the form of two ribs l9 that extend across the bottom of the water chamber and divide it into three sections. The

water flowing into the first section cannot pass 7 to the second until it has reached the height of the rib, which Will insure distribution over the width of the first section. The same holds true for the passage of the water from the second to the third section. As the water flows in, it is thus distributed in a thin layer over the entire width of the unit in the first section, then 35' overflows into the second section where it distributes itself over the width of the unit, and then overflows to the third section. The number of these ribs can, of course, be varied but, in the unit shown, two have been found to operate effectively. The thin film of water distributed over a large surface enables rapid va porization to occur and this is one of the important features of the invention. The ribs are only about of an inch high so that the water is always in a thin layer as distinguished from the usual practice of having a fairly large quantity of water that requires time and much heatenergy to bring it to a state Whereit will vaporize' rapidly. The thin layer of water is also relatively stationary as distinguished from a continuously flowing stream.

Immediately beneath the water chamber is a closed chamber 20 for receiving the heating me dium which is preferably steam, although hot water or any other suitable heating medium can be used. For convenience in the description, the heating medium will be referred to as steam, but it will be understood that this is not intended as a limitation but as a convenient term to describe the heating medium. The closed steam chamber has substantially the same length and width as the unit and as the water chamber, and

it is separated 'from the water chamber by a heat conducting wall 2| which forms the bottom of the water chamber and the top of the steam is substantially the same as that of the two chamtransfer to the water for the purpose of rapidly vaporizing it.

The bottom wall 22 of the unit (Fig. 6) is preferably sloped from the center toward each side so that when the unit is placed over a radiator or over another unit, the heated air and vapor may move upward readily, pass around the sides of the unit, turn inwardly to pick up Water vapor, and rise in vapor-laden condition. a

The steam in the closed chamber 20 will exert a pressure tending to expand it and in order to right-hand end in Fig. 4 and on the longitudinal center line as illustrated in Fig. 5, thickened near the right-hand end on the bottom at 26 and on the longitudinal center line as shown in said figures.

When the unit is to be combined with a short radiator, the connection is made at the bottom as shown in Fig. 2. The thickened portion 26 is provided with an opening 2'! and a flanged nipple 28 is bolted onto the bottom of the unit with a washer 2901. between it and the thickened portion 26. The supply pipe 24 can then be connected directly to the nipple but usually a an opening 30 to receive a nipple 3i which is connected to a valve 32 that, in turn, is connected to the supply pipe 24. The nipple 3| can be provided with a flange and be bolted to the end of the unit if such type of connection is preferred.

The opposite, or left-hand, end of the unit is provided with means for connecting, a heating medium outlet pipe to it so that the pipe is in communication with the steam chamber. For this purpose, the bottom of the body near its left-hand end and on the longitudinal center line is thickened at 35 and provided with an opening 36. It' is also thickened at 31 cm the end and center of the body to provide for'an opening 38 a .f r

When the unit is to be used with a' short radiator, the connection is made to the bottom as shown in Fig. 2. In that event, a nipple 40 is,

bolted to the thickened portion 35 of the unit with a gasket between. The nipple is then connected to an elbow 42 which is, in turn, connected to the radiator. With the inlet and outlet pipes connected to the bottom of the unit, the latter can be symmetrically positioned above a short radiator.

It is also.

For this purpose, the end wall of the unit is thickened at 25 near its When the unit is to be connected to a long radiator, the connection is to the end of the unit as shown in Fig. 3. For this purpose, the opening 38 in the thickened portion 37 of the unit is screw-threaded to receive a nipple 45 which is connected to a suitable U-connection 46 that communicates with the radiator.

With this construction, the unit canbe readily combined with a radiator of any length. It can be compactly positioned over a short radiator or located over a portion of a radiator that is longer than the unit, or, if desired, two units can be connected in series over a long radiator. In most cases, the radiator and the unit will be covered by a housing or radiator cover so that'the unit will be out of sight.

It will be observed that the openings 36 and 38 in the left-hand end of the unit are located so that they not only serve as steam outlets, but are capable of also acting as outlets for any condensed steam that may accumulate in, the chamber 20.

When the unit is combined with a radiator, it is connected so that the supply of steam first passes through the unit and then to the radiator. The steam thus starts the humidifying action immediately. Humidification occurs no matter whether the radiator is partially or fully on. The water starts to vaporize as soon as the heated air starts to rise. The large capacity of the steam chamber 20, the large area of the water chamber, and the direct contact of the steam and water with opposite sides of the dividing wall 2!, cause a quick, rapid, efficient and high capacity humidification to occur. This starts as soon as the radiator is turned on and. continues aslong as steam is supplied because the steam must first act to humidify before it orany other steam is available for the radiator.

The sloping bottom walls of the unit do not block the rising currents of heated air, but tend to cause air to flow past the sides of the unit and turn inwardly over the upper edges to absorb the water vapor. a g r \A unit has thus been provided which is relatively small, compact, inexpensive, yet very efficient and of large capacity. It can be quickly attached to existing heating systems by being connected to the radiator-supply pipes as shown, and it may be connected with radiators of any size without requiring different sized units or without requiring that the radiator be changed,

and without occupying a large amount of space.

The unit can also be assembled with other like units to provide a humidifier whose capacity canbe varied in accordance with the number of units that are assembled together. Such a combination structure not only acts as a humidifier, but it also has'a heating action, since there is a considerable radiation from the closed chambers containing the steam.

Referring to Fig. 4, the top 2| of the closed 'chamber 20 has a thickened portion 50 near its left-hand end and on the longitudinal center line of the unit. This thickened portion may be provided with an opening communicating with the interior of the chamber 20. This thickened portion is similar to the thickened portion 26 on the bottom side of the unit near the righthand end.

Referring, now, to Figs. 7 and 8, it will be observed that the units may be positioned above one another in superposed relation, each unit being directly above another. of Fig. 7 is in the same position as the unit in Fig. 4 and the description will start with it. Bolted on top of the thickened portion 50 on the lefthand end is a double-flanged nipple 52, a suitable washer 53 being interposed. The nipple 52 is, in turn, bolted to the bottom of the thickened portion 26 of the top unit with a suitable gasket 54 interposed. The two units are exactly The middle unit alike, but the. top one has been turned end-forend as. compared with the middle one so as to bring the. thickened portion 26 over to the lefthand end to receive the nipple 52. This nipple not only serves to place the steam chambers of the two units in communication with one another, but it also acts to support the top unit on'the middle unit. a

Bolted to the thickened portion 26 on the bottom of the middle unit near its right-hand end is another double-flanged nipple 52 which is also connected to the thickened portion 50 on the top of the unit below it. The lower unit has been turned en-d-for-end relative to the middle unit to place the thickened portion 50 in position to receive the nipple 52. The nipple 52 supports the middle unit on the lower unit and places the steam chambers of the two units in communication with one another.

By turning alternate units end-for-end and providing the necessary nipples 52, as many of these units can be assembled together as desired. When assembled, steam is introduced through the supply pipe 55 to the end of the top unit opposite to its connection to the next lower unit. An outlet pipe 56 is connectedto the end of the lower unit opposite to its connection to the next higher unit. These pipes can be connected to the thickened portions of the unit that are provided for the connection of the supply and outlet pipes when the unit is combined with a radiator.

In otherwords, it is not necessary to provide any special connections. The same ones serve in both uses of the unit. The steam supplied to the humidifier passes from end to end of the steam chamber of each unit and the chambers are connected in series. The top unit thus becomes effective even though only a small supply of steam is'furnished whereas if only a small supply of steam were distributed to all the units, none of them would really become eiiectiva- Further, since the steam must flow from end to end of each unit, effective action of the unit is assured.

While the connections above described are preferred,'it' is also possible to connect and support the unitsby U-shaped pipes that are connected to the ends 25 and 310i the units instead of to their bottoms. Also, in a one pipe heating system steam may be introduced into the bottom unit with no exit except that a vent valve may be provided in the top unit.

Water is introduced into the water chamber of the top unit through a faucet 51 and provision is made for causing the overflow from this cham-' ber to pass to the water chamber of the unit below it, and so on throughout the series.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 8, it will be observed that a body of metal 60 has been provided at each of the four corners of the unit sufficient to perrnit holes to be drilled through the corners without having them communicate with the steam chamber. The tops of these corner bodies form square bosses 6| that project upwardly in each of the corners of the water-receiving chamber.

Screw threaded into one of the bosses of the upper unit in Fig. '7 on the end opposite to the connection to the next lower unit, isa drain pipe The lower end of this pipe extends into the water chamber of the next lower unit where it rests on one of the bosses 6|. The lower end of the pipe is out on an angle to enable water to pass out of the pipe even though it rests on the boss This support is not absolutely necessary, but is convenient to brace the structure in the event any heavy weight is placed on top of it. A similar drain pipe 63 connects the middle unit with the lower unit, but at the opposite end. The water chambers of the units are thus connected in series so that the water must flow from one end to the other of each unit before it can descend to the.

neXt unit. The heightof the water in each unit is determined by the height of the bosses above the bottom of the water chamber.

These corner bodies 60 also make it possible to connect feet to the four corners of the lower unit so that the latter can serve as the base unit without having to be built specially for that purbut one of them, the right-hand one in Fig. 8, is-

drilled through so that the foot that is connected to this opening serves as a drain pipe for the lower unit. a

The assembled units comprise a humidifier made up of units each of which, including the base unit, are alike. The units are directlyabove one another in alignment so that the humidifier is compact. The units are connected in series both' with respect to their steam and their water chambers. by means of the steam connection between the two, with the water connection serving to assist in the support if required. The steam chamber s give a very considerable heating action as well as serving to vaporize the water.

toms of the units serve to guide the rising air currents over the sides of the units and tend to" promote air circulation.

'Referring again to the humidifier unit, this ,unit may not only be readily combined with a radiator, but it may be assembled with like units to make a humidifier. The unit is the same in bothj cases.

It is simple, relatively inexpensive, easy to install,

and yet it is highly efiicient'and has a high vaporizing capacity. Because all the units are alike, it is not necessary to manufacture a large number of difierent parts or to keep a large number of different parts in stock. When the units are made all the openings such as 38, 21, 36 and 5! can be drilled and tapped after which those not wanted can be plugged by. screw threaded plugs such as the plug H1. The same is true of the holes in the corner bodies 60, all of which can be drilled through the bodies and those not wanted for water draining purposes can be closed by plugs ll Where orders are received for units to 'be used with a particular sized radiator, or for a number of units to be assembled together, only the necessary holes need be formed in the connecting portions of'the unit. Or, if preferred, the units can be stocked without any of 5 theopenings being made. When orders are received, they can be made according to requirements.

In other words, a single unit has been provided which is always constructed the same, but which may be used under a wide variety of conditions, that is, it may be combined with all sorts of radiators as well as combined with any number of like units. 7

It is to be understood that the construction shown is for purposes of illustration only and that variations may be made in it without. de

Each unit is supported on the other The sloping bot parting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

' I claim:

l. A humidifier unit adapted to be assembled with'like' units to form a humidifier, comprising a bodyhavinga recessed top forming-a waterreceiving chamber, a closed heating-medium-receiving chamber beneath said water chamber, a

heat conducting wall between said chambers, means for enabling a heating-medium connection tobe made to the top of said body in communication with said closed chamber, means for enabling a heating-medium connection to be made to the bottom of said body in communication with said closed chamber, and means for enabling supporting feet to be connected tosaid body, whereby said unit may be connected with other like units in superposed relation and may be used as .a base unit to which supporting feet of a humidifier can be attached.

2.'A humidifier unit adapted to be assembled with like unitsto form a humidifier, comprising a' body having a recessed top forming a water-receiving chamber, said body having a closed heating-medium -receiving chamber beneath said water chamber, a heat conducting wall between said chambers, means near one end of said chamber for enabling a heating-medium connection to be made to the topof said unit in communication withsaid closed chamber, means near the other end' of said unit for enabling a heating-medium connection to be made to the bottom of said unit in communication with said closed chamber, and

means at each'of the four corners of said unit for enabling supporting feet to be attached to the unit with one or more of said supporting feet forming a drain pipe from'the water-receiving chamber of the unit.

3. 'A' humidifier unit adapted to be assembled with likeunits to form a humidifier, comprising a'cast metal body having a recessed top forming a' water-receiving chamber, said body having a closed heating-medium-re ceiving chamber 'beneath saidw'ater chamber, a heat conducting wall between 'said chambers, said body having a. thickened portionon its top near one end for enabling a heating-medium connection to be readily rnade to the body in communication with said closed chamber, saidbody also having a thickened portion on its bottom near the other end for enabling a heating-medium connection to be made to said body in communication with said closed chamber, and a body of metal at each of the four corners of said unit for receiving supporting feet, said corner bodies being such that an opening may be made therethrough' to drain the'overflow from the water chamber without communicating with the closed chamber.

4. A humidifier unit adapted to be assembled with like units to form a humidifier, comprising ened portion on the top of said body near one,

end and on the longitudinal center line of said body for enabling a heating-medium connection to'be' made with the top of the body in com-- munication with said closed chamber, a thickened portion on the bottom of said body near the other end and on the longitudinal center lineof said body for enabling a heating-medium connection to be made with the bottom of said .body in communication with said closed chamber, and a body of metal at each of the four corners of said body for enabling supporting feet to be attached thereto, each of said corner bodies also being arranged to have an opening made therethrough to drain the overflow from said Water chamber downwardly beneath the body without communicating with said closed chamber.

5. A humidifier comprising a plurality of superposed units, each of said units being alike and comprising a body having a water-receiving chamber on its top and a closed heating-mediumreceiving chamber beneath said water chamber, connecting means between successive units for supporting one unit on the other and for forming a communicating passage between the closed chambers of adjacent units, and a drain pipe from the water chamber of each unit to the water chamber of the unit beneath it, said drain pipe acting to assist in supporting the units on one another.

6. A humidifier comprising a plurality of superposed units, each comprising a body having a water-receiving chamber on its top and a closed heating-medium-receiving chamber beneath said Water chamber, connecting means between the units for supporting one on the other and providing a. communicating passage between the closed chambers of the units, means at each corner of the units for receiving a drain pipe, drain pipes connected to predetermined corners of the units above the bottom unit, and supporting feet connected to each of the corners of the bottom unit.

7. A humidifier comprising a plurality of superposed units, each comprising a body having a water-receiving chamber on its top and a closed heating-medium-receiving chamber beneath said water chamber, connecting means connecting a1- ternate sections together at opposite ends, said connecting means forming a communicating passage between said closed chambers-whereby said chambers are connected together in series, said connecting means also serving to support one unit on the other, each of said units having means capable of receiving supporting feet, whereby any unit forming the bottom unit of the series may have the supporting feet for the humidifier attached to it.

8. A humidifier comp-rising a body having end and side walls, said body being continuous between its end and side walls and having a recessed top bounded by said end and side walls and forming an open water-receiving chamber of substantial area andof width and length substantially equal to that of said body, said body also having a closed heating medium chamber beneath said water chamber of substantially the same linear area as said water chamber, an integral heat conducting wall separating said water and heating medium chambers so that it may be contacted substantially throughout its area on one side by a heating medium in said heating medium chamber and on the other side by water in said water chamber, said heat conducting wall forming the bottom of said water chamberand being substantially level and adapted to hold water over substantially its entire upper surface in a very'thin and only slightly mobile layer whereby the water may be quickly vaporized, means on the upper surface of said heat conducting wall to assist in distributing the water in a thin layer ovr the entire surface of the bottom of said waterchamber, means for slowly feeding water to-and for maintaining said water in said water chamber at substantially a predetermined level,.means at one end of said body for enabling a heating medium inlet pipe to be connected to said. body in communication :.with i said closed chamber; and means at the other end of said body for enabling a heating medium outlet pipe to be connected to said body in communication with said closed chamber.

9. A humidifier comprising a body having end V and side walls, said body being continuous between its end and side walls and having a re-' and heating medium chambers so that it may be contacted substantially throughout its area on one side by a heating medium in said heating medium chamber and on the other side by water in said water chamber, said heat conducting wall forming the bottom of said water chamber and being substantially level and adapted to hold water over substantially its entire upper surface in a very thin and only slightly mobile layer whereby the water may be quickly vaporized, means on the upper surface of said heat conducting wall to assist in distributing the water in a thin layer over the entire surface of the bottom of said water chamber, means for slowly feeding water to and for maintaining said water in said water chamber at substantially a predetermined level, means at one end of said body for enabling a heating medium inlet pipe to be connected to the end or bottom of said body in communication with said closed chamber, and means at the other end of said body for enabling a heating medium outlet pipe to be connected'to the end or top or bottom of said body in communication with said closed chamber whereby said body may be readily positioned on top of and close to a radiator that is longer or one that is shorter than said body or may be connected to like bodies to form a plural unit humidifier with one body directly above the other.

10. A humidifier comprising a body having end and side walls, said body being continuous between its end and side walls and having a recessed top bounded by said end and side walls and forming an open water-receiving chamber of substantial area and of width and length substantially equal to that of said body, said body also having a closed heating medium chamber beneath said water chamber of substantially the same linear area as said water chamber, an integral heat conducting wall separating said water water over the entire surface of the bottom of said water chamber, means for slowly feeding water to said water chamber, said body having thickened portions at its corners whose upper surface is slightly above the bottom of said water chamber, one of said thickened portions having an opening for draining said water chamber and each of said thickened portions being adapted to receive feet for supporting said body, means at one end of said body for'enabling the heating medium inlet pipe to be connected to said body in communication with said closed chamber, and

means at the other end of said body for enabling.

a heating medium outlet pipe to be connected to said body in communication with said closed chamber.

CHARLES E. ROBE. 

